Dublin-Meath Growers open new facility

Two decades after it originally set up as a farmers" market in a community hall in Navan, the Dublin-Meath Growers group opened a €4.8 million grading, storage and packing centre at its Kilshane Cross headquarters last week. On Friday last, the Minister of State for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargent, officially opened the new facility. Established by horticultural growers in the 1980s to support the marketing of vegetables and salads, Dublin-Meath Growers is now an approved supplier to both Tesco Ireland and Marks & Spencer retail networks in Ireland. The grower-owned group has now completed a €4.8 million investment in new and upgraded facilities for the storage and handling of vegetables and salads for the Irish market. The investment could not have happened without the continued support and commitment of Tesco Ireland to sourcing fresh Irish local produce, the growers group says. Back in the late 1980s, a group of local growers and farmers got permission to use a community hall in Navan from the parish. They began selling there on Saturday mornings and were so successful that the buyer from Quinnsworth realised they had stiff competition and organised for the producers to supply the store. Dublin-Meath Growers has been supplying Tesco Ireland with fresh produce for the last 11 years and over that period the business has grown from a turnover of €3 million to its current level of €30 million. At the opening, Kenny Jacobs, the marketing director of Tesco Ireland said: 'Partnership is a key ingredient in Ireland"s success. Tesco Ireland"s partnership with DMG has been a success story too and hopefully one that will grow and grow and stay as fresh as when it started.' Mr Jacobs also spoke about the need to tackle climate change and the opportunities for reducing CO2 emissions by extending the growing season for Irish vegetables. 'We all have a responsibility to give a lead by our own behaviour and by working hard to break down the barriers which prevent customers from going green.' Denis Harford, the chairman of Dublin Meath Growers, said that while the production of vegetables and salads has a long tradition in the area, the industry has undergone massive changes since the 1990s in line with changing consumer patterns and retail requirements. He went on to thank all the farmers who supply Dublin-Meath Growers for their continued co-operation and support to the group for over 20 years. 'Without this grower support we would not be here today to celebrate our new facilities.' Mr Harford said that the 'new investment in state-of-the-art facilities will place Dublin Meath Growers in a strong position to further grow its fresh produce business.' Paying tribute to the association, Minister Sargent said that Dublin Meath Growers was a co-operative of vegetable growers that can not only survive in this market but also seek to expand and improve, and deserves recognition for the achievement that this represents. Founding members included Colm Warren, Kildalkey; Rosemary and Vincent Swan, Kilmessan; John Hogan, Warrenstown College; Liam Cunningham, Hill of Down; Dick Tyrrell, Hill of Down; Frank Burke, Killyon; Rex Lee, Kells; Frank Duignan, Navan; Tony and Bernard Callaghan, Duleek; Michael Battersby of Ashbourne and Theo Carberry, Garristown. Current growers and suppliers include Lenehans, Garlow Cross, Navan, Keoghs, Rathfeigh, Battersbys, Ashbourne, Gormleys, Garristown and Carberrys, Garristown. Other speakers at last week"s opening included Colm Warren, the founding chairman, as well as IFA president, Padraig Walsh. Mr Walsh welcomed the initiative that the Dublin-Meath Growers had shown in undertaking this investment and urged Minister Trevor Sargent to increase the Department of Agriculture and Food support to the horticultural industry. 'Investing in the future competitiveness of the horticulture industry will reap many rewards, not only in terms of employment and increased trade but also in the health and well-being of consumers while also guaranteeing the supply of locally-produced vegetables and salads in the future,' he added.